Switch for cable operated machinery



y 1950 M. WRIGHT 2,507,078

SWITCH FOR CABLE OPERATED MACHINERY Filed April 23, 1948 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1950 M. WRIGHT 2,507,078

SWITCH FOR CABLE OPERATED MACHINERY Filed 'April 23, 1948 Y 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 A TroRA/E VJ Patented May 9, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE SWITCH FOR CABLE OPERATED MACHINERY This invention relates to an actuating means for alarms for cable reels.

An object of the invention is the provision of an alarm for warning an operator that the initial winding of a cable is being released from a reel so that the inner end of the cable will not be pulled from said reel, a spring-pressed lever pivoted on a flange of the reel having a free end pressed against said flange by the winding of the cable directly on the reel to prevent operation of the alarm, uncoiling of the winding releasing the lever for closing an electric circuit to the alarm.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an alarm for warning an operator that the initial winding of a cable on a reel has been reached and is already in the process of being released. from said reel so that the operator may take the necessary steps to stop the reel and cause the cable to be rewound thereon. The alarm in the form of a bell or light, being set in operation by an electric circuit when a switch in the circuit is closed by a lever which is urged to switch closing position by a spring and held in an inoperative position by the initial winding coiled on the reel, the withdrawal of the first coils of the windin releasing the lever to the action of the spring to close the switch.

The invention is best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description in connection with the accompanying drawings forming part of the specification, nevertheless, it is to be understood that the invention is not confined to the disclosure but is susceptible of such changes and modifications as shall define no material departure from the salient features of the invention as expressed in the appended claims.

In the drawings- Figure 1 is a longitudinal side view in elevation of a reel showing the withdrawal of the initial winding of a cable therefrom for releasing a control means for an alarm,

Figure 2 is a plan view of the reel and attached alarm mechanism, shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 1,

Figure 5 is an enlarged fragmentary longitu" dinal vertical section taken along the line 5--5 of Figure 2, and

Figure 6 shows diagrammatically a wiring diagram including a switch and an alarm.

Referring more particularl to the drawings ID designates a reel provided with the usual circular end flanges H and [2. The reel is carried by a shaft [3 supported by standards 14 and 14a. A cable [5 is wound on the reel and is played out during the operation of shuttle cars and cutting machines used in mines. Without warning, the initial winding I5 is released frequently thereby pulling the cable loose from the reel.

A lever 20 is pivoted intermediate of its ends at 21 on a pair of ears 22 bolted to the flange i I of the reel It]. A free end 23 of the lever is forced outwardly from the flange by a Splillg 24. The other end 25 has one end of a pin 26 pivoted at 21 thereon. This pin is received loosely by an insulating sleeve 28 mounted in an opening in the disk H. The free end 29 of the pin is normally flush with the outer surface of said disk. A shield 30 is secured at 3! to the inner face of the disk and houses the upper free end 25 of the lever 25 to prevent the cable, when Wound on the reel, from pressing on said end.

A switch base 35 has a pair of concentric spring contact members 36 and 31 which are secured at 38 to said board. The free ends of the contacts are curved outwardly or flared at 39 to receive the pin 26 in a manner which will be explained presently. The board is secured by brackets 40 to the upper end of the standard l4. Wires 4| and 42 are attached to the connecting means 38 which are in the form of binding posts. These wires are included in an electric circuit 43 in which is incorporated an alarm 44 as a bell or alamp.

The operation of my device is as follows: The cable I5 is wound on the reel l0 after being secured thereto adjacent the circular flange l2. When the winding of the cable reaches the free end 23 of the lever 20 it forces said free end against the flange ll, thereby moving the pin 26 away from the concentric contacts 36 and 3! to the position shown in Figure 5. As the cable is wound completely on the reel, the shield 30 further protects the operation of the lever by the successive layers of the cable.

When the cable is withdrawn from the reel and the initial layer is reached, the cable will begin to uncoil from said layer and release the free end 23 of the lever 20. The spring 24 will force said end outwardly from the disk I I thereby moving the other end of said lever inwardly and the pin 26 will be shifted into engagement with the contacts 36 and 3! to close the circuit to the alarm 44 for warning the operator that the initial layer of the cable is being withdrawn from the reel. He will take the necessary steps to remedy the situation. It will be appreciated that the fre end of the pin 26 will pass in and out of the concentric contacts during the unwinding of the initial layer thereby producing periodic signals until the reel is stopped by the usual braking mechanism (not shown).

What I claim:

1. In combination with a cable reel flange having an aperture therethrough, a sleeve of electrically insulative material secured in said aperture, a pair of apertured ears projecting from said flange radially inward of said aperture, a lever pivotally connected intermediate its length to said ears with its inner end positioned for engagement by the initial layer of a cable wound on the reel, a compression spring interposed between said flange and said lever adjacent the inner end of the latter urging the inner end of said lever away from said flange, a pin of electrically conductive material slidable in said sleeve and connected at one end to said lever at the outer end of the latter, a switch base'supported adjacent the outer side of said flange, and a pair of arcuate, resilient contact members supported by said base in alignment with said pin, whereby said pin is disposed between and electrically inter-connects said contact members when said pin is projected outwardly through said sleeve by said compression spring and is retracted out of contact with said contact members by engagement of a cable with the inner end of said lever.

2. In combination with a cable reel flange having an aperture therethrough, a sleeve of elec trically insulative material secured in said aperture, a pair of apertured ears'projecting from said flange radially inward of said aperture, a lever pivotally connected intermediate its length to said ears with its inner end positioned for engagement by the initial layer of a cable wound on the reel, a compression sprin interposed between said flange and said lever adjacent the inner end of the latter urging the inner end of said lever away from said flange, a pin of electrically conductive material slidable in said sleeve and connected at one end to said lever at the outer end of the latter, a switch base supported adjacent the outer side of said flange, and a pair of arcuate, resilient contact members supported by said base in alignment with said pin, whereby said pin is disposed between and electrically inter-connects said contact members when said pin is projected outwardly through said sleeve by said compression spring and is retracted out of contact with said contact members by engagement of a cable with the inner end of said lever, and a shield secured to said flange at the inner side of the latter and enclosing the portion of said lever radially outward of the pivotal connection between said lever and said ears;

3. In combination with a cable reel flange having an aperture therethrough, cable-operated circuit-closing means comprising a sleeve of electrically insulative material in said flange aperture, a pin of electrically conductive material slidable in said sleeve, a switch base supported adjacent the outer side of said flange, a pair of arcuate spring contacts carried by said base in alignment with said pin for electrical inter-connection by said pin when said pin is projected outwardly of said flange, a cable-actuated lever pivotally connected intermediate its length to said flange at the inner side of the latter and connected to said pin to retract said pin when said lever is cable-actuated, and a spring between said flange and said lever for projecting said pin when said lever is cable-released.

MELVIN WRIGHT.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the flle of this patent:

Flaws Dec. 31, 1940 

